Champion club Accra Hearts of Oak last Wednesday released exciting their intelligent forward Bernard Don Bortey to top UAE side Al Wasl on a three-month loan, starting from the day his ITC will be dispatched from the Ghana’s FA to the emirates, the club’s mouthpiece Hearts News reported.

The loan agreement which states that the UAE club will not have any right to transfer the player which has been approved by Hearts Board chairman, Ato Ahwoi, and deputy chairman Ernest Bediako. He will earn the club $40,000 (about ?238m) for the three months duration after which the player automatically reverts to Hearts.

The advantage in the agreement for Hearts is that, even if the contract starts by the first of January 2003, three months would be up in March next year, thus making Bortey eligible to feature for the Ghanaian champions in the first leg of the 1/16th stage of the CAF Champions League qualifier slated for 13 April.

The 2002 Premier League joint goalking who is currently in the emirates on trials is said to have mesmerized the soccer crazy fans with his lightening speed, attacking play and his accuracy at set pieces, scoring six goals with four coming from freekicks to send the club officials scrambling for his signature.

Al Wasl have accepted to pay an enticement fee of $10,000 and a monthly salary of $5,000 a month to Bortey in a contract that makes provision for winning bonus, accommodation, transportation, insurance, medical care and free air tickets. Bortey, a key figure in this year’s Hearts league success is expected to lead the Phobian assault on Africa next year and has already signed to play for Hearts in the 2003 competition.